Ultrasound intramuscular fat

Phenotype

Percentage of intramuscular fat (% IMF) is correlated with USDA marbling score. A minimum of four independent images should be collected and the resulting % IMF predictions averaged for this trait. The % IMF measurement is made from an image that is collected across the 11th-13th ribs (or 12th-13th ribs) at a lateral position from the animal’s midline at a point three fourths of the distance from the medial end of the longissimus dorsi muscle.

Adjusted Value

Percentage of intramuscular fat is adjusted to a common age (e.g., 365 days of age) and in multi-breed settings is also adjusted for breed composition.

Animals of the same sex, reared and managed together up until the time of scanning form a contemporary group. Scanning contemporary group definition includes the following: herd code, weaning date, weaning management group (pasture, creep, non-creep, etc.), scanning date, and post-weaning management group designation. For animals scanned at a central test, the contemporary group definition for an animal should include its herd of origin and other birth and weaning contemporary group information.